yavasseur



(No Model.)

, '4 Sheet-s--Sheet 1. J. VAVASSEUR. CENTER PIVOTED MOUNTING FOR GUNS. No. 373,623.

Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

0M aif N. PETERS. Fhnloljlho mphen Wuhin mn, D. C.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. VAVASSEUR.

CENTER PIVOTED MOUNTING 'F-OR GUNS.

No. 373,623. Patented Nov; 22, 188 7.

N4 PiTERS. PholvLilhogn-lpher. Washinglml. D. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

.'J. VAVASSEUR.

CENTER PIVOTED MOUNTING FOR GUNS. 7 No. 373,623; Patented Nov. 22, 188?.

N. PETERS. PhuXo-Lhhagmphor. Wnhiuglnn. ac,

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Modl.)

J.VAVASSEUR. CENTER PIVOTED MOUNTING FOR GUNS. No. 373,623.

Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

JOSIAH VAVASSEUR, OF SOUTHVARK, COUNTY OF SURREY, ENGLAND.

CENTER-PIVOTED MOUNTING FOR GUNS.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,623, dated November 22. 1887.

Application filed February 19, 1887. Serial No. 228,210. (No model.) Patented in France February 22, 1867, No. 181,740, and in Italy March 31, 1887, No.2l,265.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSIAH VAVAssEUn, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at the London Ordnance W'orks, Bear Lane, Southwark, in the county of Surrey, England, engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improved Oentcr-Pivoted Mountings foraRapid-Fi'ring Gun, (for which I have obtained Letters Patentin France,No.18l,740, dated February 22, 1887, and in Italy, No. 21,265, dated March 31, 1887,) of which the following is a specification.

The base-plate, .which is nearly flat, is provided with a central cylindrical pivot, around which is a track for a series of balls of hardened steel. These balls support a center-piece of bronze, forming a part of a turn-table and adjustable by means of a screw-thread to insure that a due proportion of the weight shall be supported upon the balls,while a comparatively light load is borne by wheels or rollers, which are provided at the periphery of the turn-table and which revolve upon radial axes. These wheels or rollers are conical on the face, and they run upon a corresponding track on the base-plate. Clips are also provided upon the turn-table,and these embrace a flange upon the edge of the base-plate, so that there may be no risk of the turn-table being displaced bythe shock of the recoil. Upon the turntable in front of the pivot there is fixed, in an upright position, a straight armor-plate, preferably of a height not to interfere with the sighting of the gun, and the upper edge of this armor-plate is cut away in the center to form an embrasure for the gun. The armor= plate is supported in rear by another plate of the full depth of the armor-plate, and bent to a U form. The armor-plate forms a crosstie in front. This support also is firmly secured to the turn-table. It is cut away in rear nearly to the bottom to give passage to the breech On this U-form support an arm is fixed, terminating in a shoulder-piece, by pressure against which the gun-mounting, with the gun upon it, can be turned to train the gun to bear upon the object. Upon the turn-table and on either side of the U-forni support, where they are protected by the armor-plate,lockers are provided, in which about a dozen rounds of ammunition can be stored.

On the upper part of the U-form support,

near to the front, bearings are provided to re-' ceive trunnions formed upon a ring or hoop which is part of a frame in which the gun is able to slide to and fro, recoiling always in the line of fire. The gun is preferably made without trunnions, and is suitably guided in the trunnioned frame, so that its direction is invariably maintained during recoil. This trunnioned frame is continued beneath the gun, and at its rear end it carries another ring, which embraces the gun near its hinder end. The rings may also be connected together at the top. The gun-sights are fixed upon these rings,and not upon the gun itself. In the part of this trunnioned frame extending from ring to ring beneath the gun a hydraulic controlcylinder is provided, and also a spring, which is compressed during the recoil of the gun and afterward brings the gun forward again. The recoil-cylinder moderates the recoil and also the return movement, and for this latter purpose a plug is provided at the end of the cylinder, which enters a cavity in the face of the piston or rod.

Beneath the gun, at the breech end, there is a lug, and to this lug the piston-rod of the piston working in the control-cylinder is attached. It passes through a gland in rear of the cylinder. Two other rods are attached to the same lug. They, project forward, passing one'on either side of the controlcylinder to a crosshead, and against the back of this a basedisk at the end of the spring previously mentioned abuts. This spring, when the gun recoils, becomes compressed between the crosshead and the fore part of the control-cylinder, which serves as the abutment for the spring. The spring does not bear directly upon the control-cylinder, but upon the flange of a corepiece, which occupies the interior ofthespring, and the base-disk at the other end of the spring is connected with the core-piece by a screwstem,upon which it can slide. The stem serves to apply to the spring a suitable initial compression. The arm on which is the shoulder piece carries gear by which the gun can be elevated, and also lockinggear to restrain the training movement. The locking-gear consists of an inclined axis with a hand-wheel upon it, and also a screw-thread near its lower end. The-screw-thread works in acorresponding screw-socket attached to the U-form support, and by turning the hand-wheel a shoe at the end of the axis is jammed against the face of the base-plate, so the turn-table is rendered immovable. The elevating-gear consists of a horizontal axis with a hand-wheel at its outer end, and connected by beveled pinions with an axis on which is a screw-thread working into a trunnion-nut supported by an arm projecting from the side of the hydraulic controlcylinder.

For the further protection of the gunners and mechanism,an outer shield is also provided. It also is of a u form, with the convex part forward. In the upper edge of this convex part is cut the embrasure through which the gun projects, and this is of such dimensions as to admit of the gun being depressed as far as may be considered necessary. The lower edge of this shield overlaps theedge of the baseplate and serves to protect it from injury. The ends of the straight armor-plate on the turn-table meet the shield on either side, and are firmly fixed to it, and it is in this way that the shield is carried. The shield extends up oneither side as far as may be deemed necessary for the protection of the gunners, and these side projections support a pivoted shutter shield extending from sideto side over the gun, It can be turned down so that its edge meets the top of the armor-plate, and when in this position it is inclined at a considerable angle, and projectiles striking it are deflected, so that this shutter-shield serves very'completely to shelter the men from light projectiles. It is so mounted that if found to be in the way it can be readily removed or turned in a horizontal position, so as not to interfere with the view in front of the gun.

In order that my said invention maybe most fully understood and readily carried into effeet, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aplan of a gunmounting constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a 'rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line AA in Fig. 4.

I a suitable foundation.

A is the base-plate. It is firmly secured to It has at its center a pivot, A, andaround the pivot is a circular groove, Aflin which run balls supporting the upper parts of the mechanism. The baseplate has also an inclined roller-track around it at A. A and it is provided with a flange, A, to be embraced by clips-on the turntable.

B is the turn-table. It has an opening in the center, into which a bronze block,O, is screwed. This block bears upon the balls D, and at its underside is grooved to receive the balls. The block 0 is adjusted by screwing it more or less far into the central hole of the turn-table B, so that while the main portion of the weight is taken on the block still the rollers at the 'periphery of the turn-table are not lifted from the roller-track A 'When the block 0 has been suitably set-,it is fixed in position by locking-pins.

E are rollers at the periphery of the turntable. pared for them, and are carried upon radial pins or axes F F. As represented in the drawings, three rollers E-one in front and two in rear-*are provided, and these will be found sufficient.

The turn-table is provided with a transverse vertical flange, B, to which an armor-plate, or stout plate, which I shall term an armorplate, is attached. This plate is a main element in the mounting. The turn-table B is also provided with a curved flange,B", of horseshoe form, to receive the U-form support in rear of the armor-plate.

B B are clips which engage with the than if a lighter plate be employed. The plate G is arranged vertically and extends transeither side. At its bottom edge the plate G is firmly fixed to the flange B.

H is a U -form support,of iron or steel plate, in rear of the armor-plate G. It is riveted all around its lower edge to the flange B on the turn-table. This U-form support stands up high on the two sides, where it has trunnionbearings H H fixed to it, but in rear it is deeply cut away in order to allow of the gun being elevated to a sufficient angle. This support H might be made in two separate pieces, one on either side; but it is preferable to make it in a single piece, a'nd I shall speak of it throughout as if so made.

The trunnion-bearings H H receive into them the trunnions I of the frame I. This trunnioned frame is composed'in part of two rings, I 1 the front ring, 1 having the trunnions. These rings are connected beneath the gun by a hollow cylindrical easing, I, which is cast with the rings. connected on the top. 1

Within the part I the control mechanism is provided.

The gun is without trunnions, and is able to slide freely to and fro in the rings I I of the trunnion-frame. It is prevented from turning by a longitudinal groove on the top of the easing 1, into which a key or keys fixed into the.

gun are received.

L is the gun. It has at its rear end a lug,

L, to whichthe rod Mof the piston M is fixed. The piston-rod passes through a gland, I into a cylindrical chamber, 1 containing oil or other liquid. \Vhen the gun is forward, the liquid fills the entire capacity of the cylinder excepting that occupied by the piston and piston-rod. Narrow passages are provided in any They are receivedinto recesses pre-- The rings can also be -versely across the turntable, projecting on coil proceeds the area is diminished.

I is a fixed plug in the cylinder 1 which, when the gun is forward, enters a corresponding cavity in the end of the piston-rod M. It

serves, when the gun moves forward, to bring it gradually to rest, the liquid in the cavity of the rod being able to escape pastthe plug with difficulty and comparatively slowly. The liquid is forced into the cavity during recoil through a transverse hole on the pressure side of the piston.

the gun, and passing forward to a cross-head, L Against this cross-head the disk N, pressed forward by the coiled spring 0, abuts.

l? is a hollow core-piece occupying the interior of the coiled spring 0. It is flanged outward at its rear end, and the spring bears upon the flange, holding it up to the end of the cylinder I.

Q is a bolt passing through the disk N and screwing into the end of the core-piece P: This bolt Q thus confines the spring 0, but allows it to be compressed as the gun recoils.

R is a curved shield fixed to the two ends of the armor-plate G. It extends down nearly to the ground-line, so as to protect the mechanism and gunners as efficiently as possible. It extends up on either side of the gun; but in front it is kept low, not to interfere with the sighting of the gun or the view in front. The shield R carries a light pivoted shield, S, which at pleasure can be closed down until its lower edge rests nponthe top of the armor-plate G. The gun-mounting is then completely closed in at the front, with the exception of the openings, which are indispensable to the sighting and working of the gun.

Tis an arm terminatinginashoulder-piece, T. It is fixed to the support H on the left side. By lateral pressure against this shoulder'piece the training movement is imparted to the gun.

U is a hand-wheel on the axis U. Its upper end is received into a bearing on the arm T, and its lower screw-threaded end into a screw-socket, 13*, upon the turn-table. By turning the hand-wheel U a shoe at thelower end of the locking-axis U is caused to press against the roller-path A on the base'plate, and so .the turn-table is locked to the baseplate, and the gun cannot be further trained until released.

V is the hand-wheel for elevating. It is on a horizontal axis carried upon the same arm, T, with the shoulder-piece. By beveled pinions the elevating-axis gives motion to the screw IV, and this works with a trunnion-nut,

W,which is mounted on the side of the under part, I, of the trunnioned frame.

X X are ammunition-lockers,well sheltered from the enemys fire by the armor-plate G.

Y is the fore sight carried by the ring I, and Z is the tangent sight carried by the ring 1 I claim- 1. In a gun mounting, the combination,w1th the base having the roller-track around it, the central pivot, the annular groove around the pivot and the edge flange, of the turn-table, the block adjustably secured at the center of the turntable, the balls in the groove around the pivot of the base and borne upon by said L L are rods connected with the lug L upon block, the rollers of the turn-table traveling upon the track of the base, and the clips secured to the turntable and engaging the edge flange of the base, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

2. In a gun-mounting, the combination of the turn-table, the transverse armor-plate fixed thereto, the support fixed to the turntable in rear of the armor-plate and having the trunnion -bearings, and the trunnioned frame mounted in said bearings, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. The trunnion-frame and control apparatus, consisting of the rings I 1 connected by the part 1*, beneath the gun, the cylinder 1 within the part I, the piston M, with its rod M, fixed to a lug on the breech of the gun, and

the spring 0, compressed on recoil by the cross-head Lflwhich is also connected with the lug on the gun, substantially as described.

4. In a gun-mounting, the combination of the turn-table, the transverse armor-plate fixed thereto, and the curved shield fixed to the ends of the armor-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a gun-mounting, the combination of the base, the turn-table, the support H, fixed to the turn-table, the arm fixed to the support and having the shoulder-piece, the lockingaxis having hearing at its upper end in said fixed arm and screw-threaded at its lower end, the screw-socket on the turn-table, through which the locking-axis works to press against the base, the hand-wheel on the locking-axis, the elevating-axis having bearing in said fixed arm, its hand-wheel, the screw geared with the elevating-axis, the trunnion-nut with which the screw works, and the trunnioned frame mounted in the trnnnionbearings of the support H. and carrying the trunnion-nut, substantially as and for-the purpose set forth.

JOSIAH VAVASSEUR.

Witnesses:

HERBERT E. DALE, WALTER J. SKERTEN, Both of 17 Gracechurch Street, London, E. C. 

